Club Bolívar took full advantage of their home ground, securing a convincing 3-0 win over Chilean side Palestino in the first leg of the 2025 Copa Sudamericana playoffs. Playing at the high altitude of La Paz, the Bolivian team gained the upper hand thanks to goals from Robson Matheus, Martín Cauteruccio, and Antonio Melgar.

Second-half burst buries Palestino

Under the guidance of Flavio Robatto, Bolívar started the match aggressively, with Patricio ‘Patito’ Rodríguez and veteran striker Cauteruccio leading the attack. Despite several chances in the first half, including shots from Daniel Cataño and a header from Cauteruccio, the Bolivians couldn’t find the net before halftime.

The second half saw Bolívar increase the pressure and finally break the deadlock in the 58th minute. Matheus fired a low shot from outside the box that caught Sebastián Pérez off guard, giving the home team a deserved lead.

Palestino, led by Argentine coach Lucas Bovaglio, struggled to generate chances and relied mostly on counterattacks, which were quickly neutralized by Carlos Lampe and the Bolívar backline.

As the match approached its end, drama unfolded. A handball inside the area led to a VAR review, and the referee awarded a penalty to Bolívar. Cauteruccio stepped up in the 90+10 minute and coolly slotted home his first goal for the club, doubling the advantage.

Just when it seemed the scoreboard was set, substitute Antonio Melgar sealed the win with a header in the 90+13 minute, finishing off a perfect assist from Damián Batallini.

With this strong result, Bolívar heads to Santiago with a comfortable lead, though they know Palestino will fight to turn things around at home. The return leg promises high tension, but the Bolivian side already has one foot in the Round of 16.